Shadow Slave

Usually, it would have taken Kai a lot longer to fly across the city to reach the tranquil terrace district… not that he would have. But today, the famous idol neglected his habit of staying low and out of sight. It seemed that his speed increased tremendously, as well, because ten minutes later, he was already at Sunny's door.

Maybe because of that, there was no crowd of paparazzi following him.

As they waited for Cassie, Effie rummaged through the empty refrigerator, then walked away from it with a disappointed sigh.

"There's no food!"

Sunny, who was evaluating the damage the boisterous huntress had done to the guest bedroom, glanced at her darkly.

"We've been gone for months. What did you expect?"

Effie made a sad face, then shrugged.

"But I'm hungry!"

Sunny let out an exasperated breath.

"...I have some synthpaste, if you want."

She shuddered and opened her mouth to retort, but at that moment, there was a knock on the door. If not for the haughty shadow standing guard outside — reluctantly, of course, since mundane tasks such as this were grossly beneath it — Sunny would have tensed up.

However, he already knew that it was Cassie.

The blind girl walked inside, froze for a moment, then raised a deliciously smelling package.

"...I brought food."

quick glance at Kai

Someone has

not stare at

becoming a Master, his looks assumed an almost hypnotizing quality. It was easy to

much better looking, albeit to a different degree. After studying Kai and Cassie for a bit, Sunny couldn't help but shake his head ruefully, a stunned expression on his face. He finally understood why Master

no one he had ever met was able to match. The four of them were Masters too, now, but they were far away from matching

And Sunny himself?

he qualified to be considered a flower boy, as Soul Reaper had once predicted, but even he couldn't call himself unassuming anymore. The scrawny

Sunny himself, golden threads

settled around the table

have been exhilarated by their triumph over the Nightmare, none of the four seemed too joyous… well, except for Effie, who couldn't stop grinning and stealing glances at her pristine, vigorous body. The huntress was

other free, however, just felt…

cut. Now that the danger had passed and the members of the cohort were back in the real world, all those invisible scars were starting to make their presence

Red Colosseum, the nightmares, the assault on the Ivory City… all of it

share of demons

a while, Kai poured himself a cup of tea,

don't remember

dropped her fork and stared at the archer

were swallowed by

Kai smiled with embarrassment:

his mouth. Because I didn't

blinked a few times, but didn't say anything. She even forgot about her food for a

down, then

while. He fell for my deception because he had assumed that I would not trust anyone with the knives, I think.

quiet for a